Ousted California National Guard general fires back at state in lawsuit

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A retired California National Guard general who was removed from his post has fired back against the state in a lawsuit, saying he was subjected to a hostile atmosphere of antisemitism and punished for filing a complaint about it.

Jeffrey Magram, a retired brigadier general, seeks to clear his military record and collect damages from the state, the National Guard, his former commanding officers and Gov. Gavin Newsom, who oversees the California Military Department.

Magram alleges that Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, who Newsom promoted to lead the military department in May, made antisemitic comments over a two-year period.

The retired general says Beevers referred him to a disciplinary board in retaliation after he submitted a complaint about the hostile atmosphere to the governor’s office and the inspector general, according to the suit, which was filed Jan. 24 in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

“MG Beevers mounted an unprecedented defamatory campaign against me, and it was supported by the Governor,” Magram said in a statement emailed Tuesday to POLITICO. “I want to make sure this never happens again.”

The California Military Department issued a statement denying the allegations in what it called a "retaliatory and baseless lawsuit."

Magram, who reported to Beevers, was fired after an internal review that is not detailed in the lawsuit. The Los Angeles Times reported last year that he was removed for reasons that included improperly directing military personnel to do personal tasks and having a subordinate complete part of his cybersecurity training.

He was also suspended in 2021 and investigated by the U.S. Air Force Inspector General following complaints about his conduct, according to the Times.

The now-retired general says the review was launched after he complained about antisemitism and that Beevers also improperly interfered with the investigation.

In its statement, the California Military Department pointed out that Magram was issued a letter of admonishment for multiple instances of misconduct involving ethical violations and maltreatment of subordinates. The disciplinary action was later upheld by a board of three senior officers with no involvement in the underlying incidents.

"We look forward to defending our actions to hold a senior leader accountable for his misconduct," the statement said.

Magram seeks $1.6 million in lost compensation and unspecified punitive damages.

The Military Department and Newsom’s office had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.